“These Days,” as interpreted by Cher on her 1975 album Stars, is a profoundly introspective and melancholic ballad about regret, loss, and the cautious process of looking ahead. It is a song steeped in reflection, capturing a moment of quiet contemplation where past mistakes and missed opportunities weigh heavily on the narrator’s mind. The song conveys a sense of emotional weariness and a guarded hesitation to embrace the future, born from a history of pain. In this article, we explore the full meaning of this song, breaking down its metaphors and emotions.
The song finds its roots not with Cher, but with the prodigious talent of a teenage Jackson Browne, who wrote it when he was only sixteen years old. Its timeless themes of youthful regret and world-weariness have resonated with many artists, leading to famous renditions by Nico, Gregg Allman, and of course, Cher. Her version, the third track on the rock-oriented Stars album, brings a theatrical and world-weary grandeur to Browne’s already poignant lyrics. Cher’s powerful, mature voice lends a unique weight to the song’s reflections, making it feel like a lifetime of experience is being channeled into its verses.
A Walk Through Regret and Reflection
The song opens with a quiet, solitary image: “Well I’ve been out walking / And I don’t do that much talking these days.” This sets an immediate tone of introspection. The narrator is withdrawn, lost in thought rather than engaging with the world around them. This walking isn’t for exercise or leisure; it’s a journey through memory. The following lines clarify this, stating, “These days I seem to think a lot / About the things that I forgot to do / Oh, honey, for you.”
This is the core of the song’s emotional landscape—a deep-seated regret over past actions, or more specifically, inactions. The singer is haunted by missed chances and unspoken words in a past relationship. It speaks to a universal human experience of looking back and wishing we had done things differently. The phrase “these days” acts as a recurring anchor, grounding the listener in the narrator’s present state of mind, a period defined by this somber reflection. The use of “honey” adds a touch of intimacy and sorrow, making the regret feel personal and deeply felt.
The Fear of Repeating Past Mistakes
The second verse delves into the consequences of past heartbreaks, revealing a profound fear of future pain. The line, “Well, I had a lover / Lord, It’s too hard to risk another these days,” is a raw admission of emotional scarring. The past relationship has left the narrator so wounded that the prospect of opening up to someone new feels like an unbearable risk. This isn’t just sadness; it’s a defense mechanism born from experience.
This emotional paralysis is further explored with the lines, “And if I seem to be afraid / To live the life that I have made in song… Well it’s just that I’ve been losing, losing for so long.” Here, the singer acknowledges their own hesitation and fear. The “life made in song” can be interpreted as the life they aspire to, one of passion and connection, but they feel trapped by a long history of “losing.” This could refer to losing in love, losing battles with themselves, or simply feeling like life has consistently dealt them a losing hand. It’s a powerful confession of vulnerability and explains the cautious, withdrawn nature introduced at the start of the song.
A Tentative Glance Toward the Future
Despite the overwhelming sense of melancholy and regret, “These Days” is not entirely without hope. The third verse offers a subtle but crucial shift in perspective. It begins with a declaration of intent: “Well, now I’ll keep on moving.” This is the first active step forward mentioned in the song, a conscious decision to not remain stagnant in sorrow. It’s followed by a fragile flicker of optimism: “Lord, things are bound to be improving / These days, one of these days.”
This isn’t a bold declaration of happiness, but a quiet, hopeful prayer. The singer isn’t sure when or how things will get better, but they are holding on to the possibility that they will. This tentative hope is what makes the song so relatable and human. It’s the small act of believing in a better “one of these days” that provides the strength to “keep on moving.” The verse ends, however, with a plea: “Please don’t confront me with my failures / I’ve not forgotten them.” This is a powerful and poignant conclusion, showing that while the narrator is trying to move forward, the weight of the past is still very much present. They are asking for patience and understanding, acknowledging their own awareness of their shortcomings.
Metaphors in “These Days”
The song, in its lyrical simplicity, uses subtle yet powerful metaphors to convey its deep emotional meaning. The act of “walking” itself serves as the primary metaphor for the narrator’s journey through their own memories and regrets. It’s a slow, deliberate movement that mirrors the process of introspection.
The “highway” mentioned in the bridge—”And I wonder if I’ll ever / See another highway”—is a potent symbol for a new path or a fresh start in life. The narrator is questioning whether they will ever get the chance to move on from their current emotional state and embark on a new journey, free from the ghosts of the past. The highway represents opportunity, escape, and the unknown future, and the singer’s uncertainty about seeing one highlights their feeling of being stuck.
The “corner stones” the singer sits on in the final verse are also symbolic. Cornerstones are foundational; they are the starting points of buildings. By sitting on them, the narrator is in a place of potential beginnings. However, instead of building, they are passively counting time, suggesting a hesitation or inability to start anew. They are at the foundation but are not yet ready to build upon it.
Finally, the act of counting time in “quarter tones” is a beautiful and subtle musical metaphor. Quarter tones are micro-intervals, much smaller than the standard half-steps in Western music. By counting time in such minute, almost imperceptible increments, the narrator emphasizes the slowness and tediousness of their waiting. Time is crawling by as they sit with their thoughts, waiting for things to improve.
FAQs
1. Who originally wrote the song “These Days”?
The song was written by a then 16-year-old Jackson Browne. It’s one of his earliest and most famous compositions.
2. Why did Cher record “These Days”?
Cher recorded “These Days” for her 1975 album Stars, which was a collection of rock covers. The album was an attempt by Cher to gain more critical credibility and explore a different musical direction. The song’s introspective and mature themes likely appealed to her as an artist at that stage of her career.
3. What is the difference between Cher’s version and other famous versions?
While Jackson Browne’s and Nico’s earlier versions are more folk-oriented and understated, Cher’s version is a grander, more powerful production. Her strong, emotive voice brings a sense of theatricality and lived-in weariness to the lyrics, distinguishing it from the youthful vulnerability of the originals.
4. Was “These Days” a hit for Cher?
No, neither the song nor the album Stars was a commercial success for Cher. However, over time, her rendition has been recognized by critics and fans as a powerful and underrated performance.
5. What is the meaning of the line “Well I’ve been out walking / And I don’t do that much talking these days”?
This opening line establishes a tone of solitude and introspection. The narrator is withdrawn and spends their time lost in thought rather than communicating with others, indicating a period of deep personal reflection.
6. What are “the things that I forgot to do / Oh, honey, for you”?
This refers to regrets within a past relationship. The singer is thinking about all the missed opportunities and things left unsaid or undone for a person they cared about deeply.
7. Why is it “too hard to risk another” lover? This line speaks to the deep emotional pain caused by a past relationship. The narrator has been hurt so badly that they are now too afraid to make themselves vulnerable to someone new for fear of being hurt again.
8. What is the meaning of “the life that I have made in song”?
This can be interpreted as the ideal life the narrator imagines or writes about—perhaps one of passion, love, and adventure—which stands in contrast to the fearful, hesitant life they are actually living.
9. What does “it’s just that I’ve been losing, losing for so long” imply?
This is an expression of deep weariness and a sense of defeat. The narrator feels as though they have faced a continuous string of failures or losses, particularly in love, which has led to their current state of fear and inaction.
10. What does the “highway” symbolize in the bridge?
The highway symbolizes a new path, a fresh start, or a way out of their current state of sadness and regret. Wondering if they’ll ever “see another highway” is questioning if they’ll ever get the chance to move on.
11. What is the significance of the line “Well, now I’ll keep on moving”?
This line marks a turning point in the song. It’s a declaration of intent to push forward, however slowly, rather than remaining completely paralyzed by the past.
12. What does the singer mean by “things are bound to be improving”?
This is an expression of fragile hope. It’s not a certainty, but a belief or a prayer that the future holds the promise of better days, which provides the motivation to keep going.
13. Why does the singer “sit on corner stones”?
Sitting on cornerstones symbolizes being at a point of potential new beginnings (as cornerstones are foundational) but not yet being ready or able to build upon them. It reflects a state of passive waiting.
14. What does it mean to “count the time in quarter tones”?
This is a musical metaphor for time passing incredibly slowly. Quarter tones are very small musical intervals, so counting them suggests a meticulous and drawn-out passage of time as the narrator waits for things to change.
15. Who is the “sweet friend” mentioned in the last verse?
The “sweet friend” could be a new acquaintance, a supportive friend, or even the listener. It’s someone the narrator is addressing directly, asking for their understanding.
16. Why does the singer say, “Please don’t confront me with my failures”?
This is a plea for gentleness and empathy. The narrator is fully aware of their past mistakes (“I’ve not forgotten them”) and doesn’t need to be reminded of them as they are trying to heal and move forward.
17. What is the emotional impact of repeating “I’ve not forgotten them”?
The repetition emphasizes the immense weight of the past. It shows that these failures are a constant presence in the narrator’s mind and a source of deep, persistent pain.
18. Does the song end on a happy or sad note?
The ending is bittersweet and ambivalent. It’s not happy, as the pain is still very present, but it’s not entirely sad either, as there is a stated intention to move forward and a sliver of hope for improvement.
19. What makes “These Days” a timeless song?
Its themes of regret, reflection, and the difficulty of moving on from past pain are universal human experiences, making it relatable to listeners of all generations.
20. How does Cher’s performance contribute to the song’s meaning?
Cher’s powerful and mature voice adds a layer of deep, lived-in experience to the lyrics. While written by a teenager, Cher’s rendition makes it feel like the reflection of a person looking back over a long and complicated life, adding weight and gravitas to the song’s emotions.